Ear infection

Sunday Hannah woke up with a fever of 102.7. After Motrin it went down to 101.5. She was a little fussy but otherwise good so we put her to bed a bit early and didn't think much more about it. At midnight she was wide awake and would. not. go. back. to. sleep. Finally at 5 she fell asleep and I got in a couple hours before she was awake and Pete had to leave.

Monday Hannah was fever free but we went to the doctor anyway. There was no sign of fluid in her ears, but they were really red. I explained to the doctor about Azenette's quinceniera this weekend (which Hannah is in) and we decided that it would be best to go ahead and start antibiotics right away, under the circumstances. So Hannah is on Amoxiclav.

Pete stayed home with her today since I was already working for someone else. They both did great. I think Hannah feels a lot better today and I'm planning to take her to school tomorrow. And I'm relieved because there is a lot for us to do before the quinceniera.

Hannah weighed 22lbs on Monday. We didn't do her height. So we could legally turn her car seat forward, but will wait a while longer at least. I'd like to wait till she reaches the limit for rear facing, but we'll see.

15 month doctor visit

Hannah had her 15 month check up today. It was rescheduled several times because of all our recent illness. She weighs 19lb 13oz (10%), is 30in long (25-50%), and her head is 18 1/2in (75%). She showed no signs of her previous sicknesses and her diaper rash was all gone. And she is meeting all the milestones like she should. Can't get much better than that!

So here's a little run down. Hannah says something like 20 words. The most recent are tee taw (see saw) and yes. She also makes several animal sounds and a few signs. She is climbing these days and is getting a little sneaky with it. For example, she will move the stool in the kitchen and climb on it to reach something on the counter. She is starting to find her body parts. She's known how to find our noses for a while, but now she has figured out that she has one too. Of course, she misses a lot and hits her eye or sticks her finger up her nose. She also has known how to find our belly buttons for a while, but now she knows where hers is and thinks it's hilarious.

For months now Hannah has loved music and she has liked to dance. Now she is starting to ask for music, and even for specific songs. She loves "Ride Cowgirl" (where she bounces on my knees while I sing a song about a cowgirl and at the end she falls off the "horse") and Ring Around the Rosies.

Hannah loves books. She has lots of toys but spends most of her time flipping thru her books. Sometimes she brings them to me, thrusts them in my lap, and stretches her arm up to me, which is her sign to read to her. But most of the time she "reads" to herself. She talks to herself as she stares at the pages. When she turns them she stops and then starts again, so we think she's reading, right?

She's also a big fan of closing doors. No idea what's up with that, but if there is an open door in sight she will try to close it. Same for anything that looks wrong to her - a carpet corner turned up, a bowl or a cup not where she left it. She's a little anal about some things.

I could go on, of course, for quite a bit longer, but I won't. I've bragged about my girl enough for one day!


Meadow and Emily came over this evening to see us. Hannah was so delighted to see them, as always.

Aren't they cute!

Emily took a picture of Hannah and me also.

Lunch with Grandpa Joe

Hannah and I met my grandpa today for lunch. We ate at Jim's and Hannah really enjoyed the crayons. On the way out I got a quick picture of Hannah and her Great-Grandpa Joe.



Last Friday I took Hannah back to the Dr. Her runny nose hadn't gotten any better and she had started coughing. Well there was nothing new. It could be an infection but there were no clear signs, or it could just be a cold, or it could be allergies. Her ears looked a little cloudy, but they weren't infected. The only significant thing was that Hannah weighed a little less, which didn't seem to bother the Dr at all but worries me just a little. So the Dr told us that if anything changed we could just call her rather than come back in.

Saturday morning Hannah woke up with a 102.5 temperature. We called the Dr and she agreed that the fluid had become an ear infection. So we started antibiotics. Last time Hannah had an ear infection was absolutly horrible, but this time wasnt' nearly as bad. No fun, but not so bad. Today she seems to be back to normal!

sniffles and rash

Hannah had a quick Dr appointment today to check out her persistent runny nose, and her more persistent diaper rash. The nose is apparently nothing to worry about - cold or allergies - unless she has more symptoms develop. The rash however was a bigger concern.

We are now using nothing with fragrance on Hannah. No more bubble baths, no more scented lotion, only Dove fragrance free soap. No Pampers (have fragrance) or Huggies, no commercial wipes. We are using only cloth or gDiapers on her and wiping with wet washcloths. And we are doing as much naked time as possible. I try to give her a few minutes at least with every diaper change. Just since yesterday the redness has decreased. Hopefully this works cause my baby's bottom looked painful!

We didn't get a length, but Hannah weighed exactly 20lbs! That's significant because it means that as over 1 year and 20lbs we can legally turn her car seat around. We won't though, because with a body in the 10-20% range and head in the 75% she's even more top heavy than most toddlers and we don't want any whip lash. So Hannah will be looking backwards a while longer.

One year check-up

Hannah had her one year well check today and it went oh so well. Hannah weighs 18lbs 3oz (10%) and is 27 3/4in (10%). Her head is 18in (75%)!!! I so hope she's found her growing curve!

Physically she is meeting all her milestones right on. She stacks blocks, waves, claps, bangs 2 objects together, points, takes objects in and out, has mastered the pincer grasp... She is walking, which is not expected by 12 months but not uncommon. The Dr called her an independent walker. I have an independent walker!! Augh!

Verbally she is wonderful. The Dr asked if she said any words yet and I said 5 that we were sure of, plus a number of maybes. (We know she says yay, dog, Mama, uh-oh, and bye-bye.) The Dr watched her and talked to her and we determined that she also says book, hi, nyum, nyum, nyum (which means food or nurse and is considered a word). She may be saying that (dat), Grandpa (Pawpaw), Papi (Papa), Guster (Duh-ter), and Pablo (Pab). Stacia and I think she was also saying Jojo (Stacia's cat) while we were in Beaumont. There is an obvious difference in how she says "Pawpaw" and "Papa" although we have no idea where pawpaw came from since none of us has ever said it. The Dr wants to hear 5 words at 18 months, so Hannah is doing wonderfully in that area!

However, there is always a down side. Hannah had shots today. At 9 months she barely whimpered, but today she SCREAMED. I nursed her for at least 15 minutes after and she still was not happy. We got in the car and Hannah promptly removed her band aids which made things much better.

Swimming with friends

Hannah and I went swimming with a bunch of friends today.

Campbell is one day older than Hannah and lives by this pool, so she told Hannah all about it.


While she was eating lunch Hannah found her belly button.


We took a picture with Campbell, Meredith, and Meredith's mom, McGee.


Hannah really did enjoy swimming, but when it was time to go it was time to go!


George had fun swimming too!




(Not pictured are Hannah's friends Julian, Abby, and another Abby.)

After the pool we went to Hannah's Dr appt. At her weight check 2 weeks ago we set up this appointment to find out why Hannah wasn't gaining weight. As we left the Dr came out and told us to prepare for "a battery of blood tests". Hannah must have understood because yesterday she was up 8oz! after several months of not gaining she gained 1/2 a pound in 2 weeks! So no blood tests and no more writing down every thing she eats. Yay!

Weight check

Dad, Hannah and I went to the Dr office today to weigh Hannah. At her last appointment a moth ago she had gained 2oz. This time she had lost 1oz. According to Dr Collins that 1 oz is not really taken into account, it's too small, but the point is she still hasn't gained. So we have to keep a food journal for 2 weeks and go back to find out if there is anything more going on.

So overall we aren't concerned. Hannah has grown 1/2 an inch in a month. She eats really well, is incredibly active, and according to the charts for breast fed baby girls she is in the 20-30%, not the under 10% like on the formula fed charts that Dr offices use. Still, she's not gaining.

So hopefully in 2 weeks we will know more!

9 month checkup

Hannah had her 9 month checkup a few weeks early yesterday. She was fabulous. We had to do a blood test to check for anemia and Hannah didn't even flinch when her finger was pricked, or as it was squeezed into the vial. I started nursing her then and when she got her flu booster she gave about three little whimpers and was done. What a tough little girl!

On the less exciting side, she still hasn't gained much weight. Last appt she weighed 16lbs even and was in the 25th percentile. This time she weighs 16lbs 2 oz and is in the 10th percentile. (Height 26 3/4in - 25th%, head 17 1/2in - 75% - we said she was smart!!) The doctor was not especially concerned about the lack of weight gain. As she put it, Hannah is eating exceptionally well and is very active and she is growing in height which is a good sign.

So we are to be sure not to skimp on the calories. We are feeding Hannah avocado several times a week, introducing cheese, and buying whole milk yogurt.

We don't have to go back until Hannah is 12 months, but we will probably visit once or twice between now and then for a weight check.

In other news I got a hair cut yesterday! Stay tuned for pictures!

6 month checkup (at 7 1/2 months)

Hannah had her 6 month checkup today. She is 16lbs (25%), 26 1/2in (25-50%), and her head is 17 1/2in (75-90%). So we have a skinny, average height, incredibly large brained little girl!

The doctor told us that Hannah looks great and gave us the ok to start a lot of new foods including meat, yogurt, and finger foods. So we went grocery shopping and Hannah got all kinds of fun things at dinner.

Finger foods! Peas were not a big hit. The shells were annoying.


Chicken and sweet potatoes are pretty yummy!